Government’s hunting decision shot down by all sides
In between a tree-hugger and a loaded shotgun: JAMES DEBONO analyses the political implications of the government’s decision to open a ‘limited’ season this spring
Survey highlights
Only 13% agree with limited hunting season
39% disagree as they favour a ban on Spring hunting
29% think hunting season proposed by government is too short
55% of respondents related to hunters think proposed season is too short
49% oppose total ban on hunting
PN voters more likely to oppose hunting than PL voters
Shot down by both hunters and environmentalists, the government’s decision to open a limited spring hunting for six days between 24 and 30 April has only managed to gain the backing of 13% of respondents in a MaltaToday survey conducted last week.
The survey reveals that opponents of spring hunting outnumber those who agree with a season, but think the one on offer is too short or limited.
In fact, while 29% disagree with the government’s decision because they view the proposed hunting season as being too short or limited, 39% disagree because they would have liked a total ban on spring hunting.
Significantly PN voters are more opposed to spring hunting and hunting in general than Labour voters.
In fact while 40% of Labour voters in the 2008 general election would like a complete ban on hunting in spring, the percentage increases to 48% among PN voters.
And while 74% of Labour voters are against a total ban on hunting, Nationalist respondents are evenly divided.
Labour voters’ tendency is to be more sensitive to hunters’ concerns, reflecting the Labour Party’s official position in favour of a three-week spring hunting season, even if Labour has to contend with a strong minority opposed to hunting.
On the other hand the PN has to deal with an anti-hunting majority among its voters, who could be alienated if the government concedes too much to hunters.
Not surprisingly hunters and their relatives are the most likely to think that the hunting season proposed by the government is unacceptable, because it is deemed too short.
Among respondents not related to hunters, 43% oppose the government’s decision because they are against hunting in spring. Only 17% oppose this decision because the proposed season is too short. But even among this category, only 15% agreed with the government’s decision to allow six days of hunting.
On the other hand, 55% of respondents related to hunters oppose the government’s decision because the proposed season is deemed too short.
Among respondents who said that they practice hunting or trapping, nobody agreed with the government’s decision while 88% opposed it because the season offered is insufficient.
Although a large segment of the population is opposed to Spring hunting, a relative majority of 49% opposes a complete ban on hunting throughout the year. On the other hand 38% agree with such a ban.
Methodology:
The survey was held between Monday 12 March and Thursday 16 March. 441 people were chosen from the printed and on-line versions of the directory. 300 accepted to be interviewed. The results were weighed to reflect the sex and age balance of the population. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 5.7%
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
